Laura Pensiero, RDN
ABOUT LAURA
Dietitian, Chef, Wellness Advocate, Food Industry Leader
Food is Delicious medicine
Laura Pensiero is a recognized thought leader and hands-on innovator in the "Food is Medicine" movement for over two decades. She literally puts it on plates daily, serving patrons at her 24-year-young award-winning Mediterranean restaurant, Gigi Trattoria in Rhinebeck, NY, and through her catering business and custom menus.
A pioneer at the intersection of nutrition and culinary arts, Laura’s current focus includes prevention, longevity, and healthy food education. She combines clinical expertise with culinary creativity, empowering individuals, companies, and organizations to embrace nutrition as a powerful tool for health and well-being.
LAURA'S JOURNEY
Laura’s journey began as a registered dietitian at premier teaching hospitals, where she witnessed firsthand the limitations of traditional nutrition intervention, often arriving too late to make a meaningful impact. Driven by a desire to bridge this gap, she trained at The French Culinary Institute, merging her clinical expertise with culinary creativity to become a chef who not only nourishes but empowers through food.
As the founding chef/nutritionist of Just Salad and the owner of Gigi Hudson Valley, Laura has built influential food brands from the ground up, shaping a new standard of healthy, accessible eating. She has authored or contributed to over 20 cookbooks, sharing her philosophy of food as a vehicle for health and longevity.
TODAY
&
THE FUTURE
Over the years, Laura has embraced preventive nutrition, recognizing food as a vital tool for disease prevention and long-term health. Today, she is at the forefront of personalized nutrition, integrating technology and epigenetics to develop tailored wellness strategies that address individual health needs.
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Known for her honesty, directness, and unyielding drive to solve problems, Laura is a master networker and connector. She thrives on creating opportunities for meaningful collaboration, always bringing people together for impactful initiatives. Her career is defined by a relentless commitment to excellence, where each step—whether as a dietitian, chef, wellness advocate, or food industry leader—is rooted in one core belief: food is medicine, and its impact can transform lives.